An interview with the media by Niyazi Büyükgıcık, the founder of our company:

We would like to listen to Niyazi Büyükgıcık as a businessman who is still at the helm of his business with more than half a century of knowledge.

I am Niyazi Büyükgıcık, born in Konya in 1947. I continue this business, which I started as an apprentice, as Çayırova, which is a half-century adventure.

How did you start your business life?

First of all, I started the Art Institute, which I won in the 1959-1960 academic years. In the first half of the second grade, I was expelled from school with more than 50 absenteeism in the first 4 months.

At that time, the old garage was the center of Konya and the industry and trade business was intense in that region. We started our business life in the old garage in 1962. I first started with milling machines and then we moved on to trailers and trailer equipment. I established my workplace by selling the gold I bought for my wife when I got married. In 1972, a friend of mine sold his engine and we established our workplace in the old industry with a total capital of 10 thousand liras. After working together for two years, he handed over the business to me and we have been continuing without a partner since 1974. Afterwards, everyone went their own way.

You said that you entered the sector as milling machines, what did you start by producing in your workplace?

In 1972, we started manufacturing milling machines based on our previous experience and continued our activities in this field until 1979. However, due to the seasonality of the business and commercial difficulties, we decided to turn to sub-industry products, that is, today's basic production materials. Since then, we have been producing products and we continue on our way by combining our experience in the sector with quality.

How did you come up with the name 'Çayırova' for your company?

When we opened the business, there was a place where my friend and I worked together before and a little bit after the military. The owner of the company was a brother who did clean and quality work. The name of that company was Ova. Because we loved him and accepted him as a guide, we changed our name to Çayırova. Since then, we have been continuing as the registered 'Çayırova Company'.

Can you compare the working conditions in those days and the master-apprentice relationship with today?

Back then, poverty was rampant, people were struggling to make ends meet. We went through such times that there were times when we could not find shoes to wear in summer. We only had tires to wear in winter. When we started our apprenticeship, we were paid 5 Turkish Liras per week. With this money, we would pay for our travel and food for a week and try to contribute to our family. Our house was on the Karaman road, from there we would walk 15 kilometers to the old garage to avoid paying for the minibus. We would get tired both at work and on the road.

The difficulty of our first business was that it was a seasonal business because we were producing milling machines. It required us to produce fast. If it didn't coincide with the period when it needed to be sold, you couldn't sell it. That's why we actually switched to a different field of production in 1979.

Can you compare the working conditions in those days and the master-apprentice relationship with today?

When I started working, I told them that I started as an apprentice, but they hired me by showing two guarantors because that was the way it was in our era. We couldn't even speak in front of the boss. Today, things are more institutionalized, but there is no trust. Still, today's conditions are better, I like them.

There is food, travel money, shuttles. There are breaks, we give work clothes and shoes. Before, my mother used to wash them by hand, but nowadays it is more comfortable.

In the past, one person used to do every job, but nowadays, a different person takes care of each line of work. The owner of the company working next to me was apprenticed to me. There are also employees I have trained like him, but the number of employees who love this place and retired here is higher.

What do you think distinguishes you from other companies in the sector, can you give us some advice?

I printed the painting, which is also hanging in my workplace, as a reminder for anyone who forgets. Five things have always been my leaders in life and I always advise young people to do the same. Perseverance, work, patience, loyalty and conviction. Some people have four of them, but because they don't have the fifth one, they sink or they can't grow. So I think that if a person has all five of these things, that person's path will be paved. I think getting to a good point in business has nothing to do with studying, you need patience, you need perseverance, you need to have all five of these things in order to rise in the workplace.

I know people who were very smart and are now living on a pension. Those people thought they were very smart, they were cunning, they didn't work, and that's what happened. Anyway, when a person does everything perfectly, they start to have a sense of self. Therefore, the important thing is patience and the ability to cope with difficulties. However, if you manage the business in time and in accordance with the conditions and technology of the period, you will win. One of my biggest recommendations is that you cannot travel every road at the same speed, you have to accept this. If you don't determine the road conditions and go at a speed accordingly, you will crash somewhere. The first time you say 'I didn't crash' but the second time you will definitely crash.

Where do you see the Turkish industry in the future?

Turkey is a country that has come from behind in the industrial sector and caught up with the speed of other countries. There used to be artisans in the past, now there are no more artisans in this sector, but since the automation system has been switched to, the capacity has increased. As Turkey, we are competing with other countries. I believe that after 15 years we will be in much better places.